Construction elevator system



July 7, 1970 J. E. SIEFFERT 3,519,301

CONSTRUCTION ELEVATOR SYSTEM Filed Jan. 10, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I JOSEPH EDWARD SIEFFERT BY ATTORNEY July'i, 1970 J. ETSIEFFERT 3,519,101

CONSTRUCTION ELEVATOR SYSTEM Filed Jan. 10, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet .1

k? INVENTOR ag; JOSEPH EDWARD SIEFFERT my? 6| BY ATTORNEY July 7, 1970 J. E. SIEFFERT CONSTRUCTION ELEVATOR SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 10, 1968 lNVENTOR JOSEPH EDWARD 1SIEFFERT BY jqjw -anz ATTORNEY United States Patent i 3,519,101 CONSTRUCTION ELEVATOR SYSTEM Joseph Edward Sieffert, New Hyde Park, N.Y., assignor to Otis Elevator Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 696,779 Int. Cl. B66b 9/00 U.S. Cl. 1872 23 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elevator system, for use during the erection of a building, in which the hoist ropes are fastened at a point intermediate their ends and the excess length thereof stored in such a way that the rise of the elevator can be increased from time to time by raising the hoisting machinery to a higher level without the necessity for re roping.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to elevators and particularly to building construction elevators which are required to serve more and more floors as the construction of the building progresses.

BACKGROUND During the construction of a multi-storied building the steel erection contractor normally provides a hoist by which the material for the steel framework of the building is hoisted into place. However, such a hoist is suitable neither for other building materials, nor for tools, nor for men, nor is it usually available for purposes other than steel erection. Accordingly, it is desirable for normal elevator service to follow as closely as possible behind the steel erection. Such close following makes it necessary to increase the rise of the elevator frequently.

When the rise of an elevator is increased, obviously it is necessary for the effective length of the hoist ropes to be increased correspondingly. One approach to the problem is to provide a length of rope long enough to serve the maximum height of the building but to use initially only a portion by fastening the rope at an intermediate position along its length, storing the excess temporarily and paying it out from time to time as the height of the building framework increases. Years ago, when construction elevators were little more than platforms and the loads were measured in pounds, hoist ropes of hemp were used and presented few problems. Such ropes could be fastened to almost anything at an intermediate portion of their lengths by tieing or winding on cleats. The excess, inactive rope could be wound on a drum or hung on a hook or simply coiled on the platform or the floor.

Today, etficient construction methods require the use of full fledged elevators for men and materials with the useful load measured in tons instead of pounds. Such elevators almost invariably use stranded wire hoist ropes. It is difiicult to fasten such ropes temporarily at an intermediate portion of their length because they are not amenable to having knots tied in them or to being wound around cleats. It is even difficult to tighten the usual rope clamps sufiiciently to withstand the full rated load that the rope can support without either damaging the rope or using a prohibitively large number of clamps. Accordingly, it has been common practice to install new hoist ropes of the proper length each time the rise of the elevator is increased. Such reroping is both time consuming and expensive.

A number of arrangements for eliminating, or minimizing the number of rope changes have been known. For example, it has been proposed to use two elevators in adjacent hatchways, one extending from ground level 3,519,101 Patented July 7, 1970 to an intermediate floor, and the other extending from the intermediate floor up, but not down as far as ground level. This reduces the number of rope changes necessary but requires a transfer of men and materials at the intermediate fioor. It has also been proposed to store the extra length of hoist ropes in or on the counterweight but space limitations and the problem of anchoring the ropes to the counterweight satisfactorily have limited the usefulness of this arrangement. Another possibility, although not an attractive one, is the use of winding drums, one each for 'car and counterweight, but the amount of rope thatcan be stored without damage on reasonably sized drii ms is quite limited.

The majority of elevator systems in use today are of the machine above kind in which the hoisting machinery, including the traction sheaves, the motor, the brake, etc., are installed on a bedplate in a machine room on top of the hoistway. The bedplate in turn is supported on structural machine beams which span the hoistway and rest" on the structural steel framework of the building. When the rise of such an elevator system is increased, the'machine room must, of course, be raised and as an incident thereto the machine beams must be removed and reinstalled at the new level. The removal and reinstallation of these beams has hithereto been a substantial job, not" only because of the precautions that must be taken to 'quard against dropping the beams in the hoistway but also because it is necessary to position the beams properly with respect to both the bedplate and the steel building framework each time the machine room is installed at a new level.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved building construction elevator system.

Another object is to provide such a system in which the rise can be increased readily.

A more specific object is to provide an elevator system in which the rise can be increased without reroping.

Another object is to provide an elevator system in which the machine beams can be quickly and easily placed in position to support the bedplate each time it is raised.

SUMMARY A specific elevator system incorporating the invention as applied to a, ,1:1 roping installation includes an auxiliary traction sheave non-rotatably mounted on the top of the elevator car around which sheave the hoist ropes pass. The ropes then extend through rope clamps mounted on the car so that the sheave and the clamps effectively fasten an intermediate portion of the ropes to the car. The excess or inactive length is stored on reels, also on top of the car. Opposite sides of the bedplate are equipped with simple guide shoes engaging the guide rails. The bottom of the bedplate includes guideways into which the machine beams are inserted. It is contemplated that when the rise is to be increased, the car will be fastened to the-bedplate and the hoist ropes will be disconnected temporarily from the counterweight so that the hoisting machinery, the bedplate and the car can be raised simultaneously by the steel erection contractors hoist. The old machine beams are slipped out of the guideways as the rise starts and new ones slipped in at the finish. The additional hoist rope required is unwound from the reels. The invention may be applied to a 2:1 roping installation by providing an auxiliary platform beneath the bedplate to which the non-rotatable sheave may be fastened. The ropes pass around the sheave and are clamped and stored on the platform.

For a clearer understanding of the invention reference may be made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing the application of the invention to an elevator system using one to one roping;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a detail of a rope retaining carriage;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the stationary cable clamp sheave assembly including the hoist ropes and wire rope clamps;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a machine beam held by the beam clamp plates;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary pictorial -view of one of the guide plates;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary pictorial view showing the traveling cable and its storage reel;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary pictorial view, partly schematic, showing the lower limit switch, its cable, and the storage reel therefor;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary pictorial view showing the connection of the governor rope to the safety operating mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary pictorial view showing how the hoist ropes may be held by an uphauling line;

FIG. 10 is a pictorial view of the wire rope clamps and the friction clamps;

FIG. 11 is an elevation view, partly schematic, showing the application of the invention to an elevator system using two to one roping; and

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of portions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Referring first to FIG. 1 there are shown two guide rails 21 and 22 on opposite sides of a hoistway extending from the pit in the basement upward to approximately as high as the steel framework has been erected. A bedplate 23, made of structural steel members, is supported by two machine beams 24 and 25, preferably I beams, which extend across the hoistway and are in turn supported by and bolted to the steel building framework 26. Mounted on the bedplate 23 in this illustration are a motive power unit 27 including an electric motor and suitable speed reduction gears, a traction sheave 28, a secondary sheave 29, a brake 31, a motor generator set 32, and a controller 33 comprising a cabinet in which are mounted various electromagnetic switches, resistors, and other components. A governor 34 is clamped to the rail 22 a convenient distance above the bedplate 23. A generally A shape framework 35 is fastened to the bedplate and extends upwardly therefrom, being provided at the top with a cross piece 36, a pair of shackles 37 and a wire rope sling 38 extending between the shackles to receive the hook 39 of the steel erectors hoist. A reel 41 is mounted on top of the controller 33 and stores a portion of the traveling cable 42. The inside end of the cable is brought out and plugs into the controller 33. The other end extends down the hoistway to the elevator car 44. The A shaped framework 35, the bedplate 23 and the equipment mounted thereon is sometimes referred to herein as the machine room or the portable machine room by analogy to permanent elevator systems in which such equipment is installed in an actual room at the top of the building.

A cable clamp sheave 45 is mounted on top of the elevator car 44. The sheave 45 is preferably grooved for traction and may be similar to the sheaves 28 and 29. However, the sheave 45 is non-rotatably mounted. Hoist ropes 46, after passing over the traction sheave 28 and the sec ondary sheave 29, pass down and around the sheave 45 for approximately 270 and are clamped thereto, preferably by two sheave cable clamps (not shown in FIG. 1). The hoist ropes then extend through wire rope clamps 47 mounted on the car crosshead 48 and then extend to storage reels 49 mounted on a framework 51 on top of the car. -By this arrangement, the hoist ropes support and are fastened to the car 44 at an intermediate portion of the ropes, without damage to the ropes and, as will be more fully explained, the portion of the ropes at which they are fastened to the car can be changed, thereby in effect lengthening the hoist ropes.

v A regular traction sheave 45 has been used in the specific embodiment being described, but only for convenience. Inasmuch as the sheave 45 is non-rotatably mounted, there is no fundamental reason why a sheave, which is normally a rotatable item, need be used. All that is required is a stationary member with an arcuate surface of sufficient radius not to damage the rope and exhibiting sufficient friction so that the hoist rope may be snubbed around it successfully. A traction sheave with undercut grooves serves admirably and has been used wtih excellent results in several instances.

A pair of chain hoists 53 and 54 are hung by beam clamps 55 and 56 to the underside of the bedplate 23. In the illustration, the chains 57 and 58 of these hoists are hooked to suitable shackles on the crosshead 48 so that the car can be hung from the bedplate 23 as will later be explained.

The governor rope 61 is fastened to the safety operating mechanism 62 of the car in the usual manner, except that a splice is made, as will be more fully explained, so that an extra supply of rope may be stored on one of the reels 49 on top of the car. The lower end of the governor rope 61 passes over a tensioning sheave 63 in the pit in the usual manner. Compensating chains 64 depend from the bottom of the car. Normally, of course, the other end of the chains are connected to the counterweight 65 but in the position of the parts shown in FIG. 1 the counterweight ends have been disconnected preparatory to raising the hoisting machine. The counterweight rests on its buffer 66. A temporary wooden cage 67, or crosshead, is positioned between the counterweight guide rails 68 and 69 and serves to keep the hoist ropes 46 from becoming entangled when they are disconnected from the counterweight 65.

Before considering the apparatus and its function in more detail, it can be understood from the description so far given that when the apparatus is to be raised to a new level, the car 44 is hung by hoists 53 and 54 from the bedplate 23 and the steel erectors hoist is used to lift everything simultaneously to the new level. The necessary additional length of various ropes and cables are paid out from the storage reels.

'Each of the hoist ropes 46, although of a single continuous length, may be thought of as comprising three portionsan active portion, a joining portion and an inactive portion. The active portion, which is used in the regular operation of the elevator system, extends from the counterweight 65, up and over the sheaves 28 and 29, and down to its point of engagement with the non-rotatable sheave 45. The joining portion may be thought of as the portion extending around and in engagement with the non-rotatable sheave 45 and through the wire rope clamps 47. The inactive portion is the portion beyond the clamp 47, the majority of which is on the reels 49.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is usual in construction elevators, and will be assumed in this case, for the elevator to be operated simply by a car switch. During normal operation the compensat mg chains 64 are, of course, connected to the counterweight 65. The cable cage 67 may be removed or may be left in place resting on top of the counterweight 65. The cage 67 comprises upper and lower portions, each of WhlCh, as best shown in FIG. 2, may be simply a pair of wooden 2 x 4s 71 and 72 with mating semi-circular vertical holes 73 to accommodate the hoist ropes freely. The upper and lower portions may be fastened together by sultable braces 74 and the entire assembly may be bolted together for easy assembly and disassambly. Clips such as the Z-shaped bracket 75 are used to form rudimentary guldeways to guide the cage along the counterweight rails 68 and 69. The chain hoists 53 and 54, are, of course, disconnected and removed during normal operation leaving the car 44 supported by the hoist ropes 46. These ropes are, in effect, snubbed around the sheave 45.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the sheave 45 is supported by its axle 76 which is carried by two brackets 77 and 78 which in turn are bolted to the underside of the beams 4 81 and 482 which comprise the car crosshead 48. The brackets 77 and 78 are positioned to locate the sheave 45 so that the vertical tangent to the left edge or rim is approximately at the center of the ear and beneath the vertical tangent to the secondary sheave 29. With the brackets 77 and 78 positioned as shown, the axis of the sheave 45 is perpendicular to the axis of the secondary sheave 2-9, but this is not important because the resulting deviation from the vertical of the hoist ropes 46 between the sheaves 29 and 45 is too small to be troublesome. The sheave 45 is held from rotating by two pins 81 and 82 which pass through holes in the web of the sheave 45 and through corresponding holes in the brackets .77 and 78. The hoist ropes 46 extend downward from the. deflector sheave 29' and are wrapped around the sheave 45 for approximately 270 as shown. A pair of sheave-cable clamps 83 and 84 aid in holding the ropes 46 in place. From the sheave 45, the ropes pass through nine wire rope cable clamps indicated generally by the reference character 47 and individually by the reference characters 471 to 479 inclusive. These clamps are welded to a plate 86 which in turn is bolted to the crosshead beams 48-1 and 4 8-2. From the clamps, each rope extends to one of the storage reels 49.

The two machine beams 24 and 25 preferably are fastened together by a stiffening we-b such as a structural channel member 87 (FIG. 1). The beams are supported by and bolted to the steel framework of the building, and each is clamped to the bottom of the bedplate 23. The clamping arrangement for the beam 24 is typical, and, as best shown in FIG. 4, the upper flange of this beam is held by two beam clamp plates 88 and 89 each of which comprises an elongated generally rectangular metal strip to which small rectangular bars 91 and 92 have been welded along one edge as shown. The bedplate 23 comprises, on opposite sides, two facing spaced apart structural channels, those on one side being shown at 93 and 94. A stud clamp plate 95 is inserted between them so as to span the space between the lower flanges. A pair of bolts 96 are tack welded to a stud plate 97 and the bolts pass through holes in the stud clamp plate 95 and through slots in the beam clamp plates 88 and 89, and are fastened by nuts 98 retained by cotter pins. The beam clamp plates 88 and 89 are fastened in a similar way at their opposite ends. When the nuts 98 (and those on the other end) are loosened (but not removed) the beam clamp plates 88 and 89 form a guideway similar to a drawer slide into which the machine beam 24 may be inserted from one end and from which it may be withdrawn. When the nuts are tightened the beam 24 is clamped securely in place.

The bedplate is provided with a pair of guides to guide the unit along the rails when it is raised. These guides may be quite elementary. FIG. illustrates a suitable guide which simply comprises a plate 101 notched to embrace the rail 21 and bolted or clamped to a convenient portion of the bedplate such as the I-beam 102 which extends along one end transversely to the previously mentioned channel members 93 and 94.

During operation of the elevator system the portion of the traveling cable 42. extending from the car is supported near the top of the hoistway by a cable grip 104 hung from a convenient point on a building beam 105 to avoid putting a strain on the cable reel, as shown in FIG. 6. From the cable grip 104 the cable 42 extends around the reel 41. The inner end is brought out and connected to a multi-contact male plug 106 which plugs into a corresponding receptacle in the controller 33.

As best shown in FIG. 7, the lower limit switch 108 at the bottom of the hoistway is mounted on a section of channel 109 and is connected through a plug 111 to the cable 112 which extends upward through the hoistway to a reel 113. This cable also is hung by means of a cable grip 114 to a building beam 115 in much the same way as the previously mentioned traveling cable is hung. The

inner end of the cable is brought out and connected through a plug 116 to the controller 33. The reel 113 may be mounted on a pipe 117 which in turn may be mounted at the upper end of the upstanding A frame.

The electric connections to the governor are made through a plug (not shown) which can be readily disconnected to facilitate a move to a higher location. Provision must also be made for lengthening the governor rope. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 the governor rope 61 is fastened to an arm 121 which is operatively connected in the usual manner to the lift rods (not shown) which operate the car safeties. The rope 61 extends upward, around the governor 34, downward around the tension sheave 63 and upward to the vicinity of the arm. 121. There the rope 61 is fastened by rope clamps 122- to a short section of rope 123 which is fastened to the arm 121. Where the rope 61 leaves the clamps 122 it is formed into a loop 124 so as to provide enough slack to enable the arm 121 to operate. The rope then extends upward to one of the storage reels 49 on top of the car.

PREPARATION FOR RAISDIG MACHINE ROOM When the machine room is to be raised to a higher level, the rails for both car and counterweight are extended upward to the new location. A duplicate set of machine beams, similar to the beams 24 and 25, are fabricated, complete with a steadying web, and positioned at the new level on planks clear. of the front of the hoistway.

The elevator car is placed at the bottom terminal The clamps 122 (FIG. 8) are loosened so as to disconnect the short section 123 of governor rope. At and above the machine room, a hoist and snatch block is rigged to raise the governor 34 to the new location. The electrical connections to the governor are unplugged and the governor is unclamped from the rail. As the governor is hoisted, additional governor rope is payed out from one of the reels 49 on top of the car into the tension sheave 63. When the new level is reached, the governor 34 is remounted on the rail. At the car, the governor rope 61 is reconnected by the clamps 122 to the short section 123.

The cable cage or crosshead 67 should next be installed just above the counterweight. Next the car is run to the top terminal and the counterweight is slowly landed onto its buffer. As the car reaches its maximum height, as evidenced by slipping of the hoist ropes on the main sheave due to loss of traction, power is shut olf and the brake applied.

Next, the two chain hoists 53 and 54 are hung from the front to back I-beam members of the bedplate, preferably with the aid of a pair of beam clamps. The chains are attached by U bolt beam clamps to the car crosshead 4 8. The chain hoists are taken up until the hoist ropes slacken. From this point the car should be hauled up at least one foot extra.

Next, the counterweight ends of the compensating chains are disconnected and the hoist ropes are disconnected from the counterweight. The cable cage or crosshead 67 keeps them from becoming entangled.

Next, the top limit switch (not shown) is disconnected and removed. The plug 111 (FIG. 7) to the bottom limit switch is disconnected. The cable grip 114 is unhitched from the building beam and rehung from some convenient point on the machine room.

The primary power is next disconnected from the machine unit. Then, the traveling cable 42 is unplugged from the side of the controller 33 (FIG. 6) and clamped to the side of the cable reel.

The clamp bolts 96 (FIG. 4) holding the machine beams 24 and 25 are loosened by running the nuts down about /1 inch. These beams are also unfastened from the steel building framework.

As a final preparatory step, the new hoistway, above the present location of the machine room, should be checked for clearance for both machine room and elevator car outline.

7 RAISING OPERATION After the foregoing preparations have been completed, the hook 39 of the steel erectors hoist is engaged with the sling 38. The entire machine room, with the attached car frame 44 is lifted until the machine beams 24 and 25 clear the building steel slightly. These beams are withdrawn from under the bedplate 23, using the guideways formed by the clamp plates 88 and 89.

When the beams are clear, the machine room and car 44 are hoisted to slightly above the new level. The duplicate set of machine beams are inserted into position in the guideways and are temporarily supported by the clamp plates 88 and 89. The machine room is lowered into position with the new machine beams supported by the steel building beams. Very little positioning effort is required during this operation because the guide plates 101 have kept the entire machine room properly positioned with respect to the guide rails 21 and 22 during the raising operation and the beam clamp plates 88 and 89 (and their counterparts for the other machine beam) serve to position the machine beams accurately with respect to the bedplate 23. Next, the nuts 98 (FIG. 4) are tightened so as to draw the clamp plates up tight against the upper flange of the machine beams. The latter are then bolted to the steel building beams.

The hook 39 is now disengaged from the sling 38 so as to release the steel erectors hoist for other uses.

REASSEMBLY The first thing to do is to get the hoist ropes reconnected. It is to be noted that the heavy side of the hoist ropes is the side extending from the traction sheave 28 downward toward the counterweight and care must be taken to prevent the ropes from overhauling too rapidly when paying out. As shown in FIG. 9, a rope clamp 126 is clamped to the hoist ropes 46 where they leave the machine on the counterweight side. An uphauling line 127 such as a hemp rope is fastened to the clamp 126 and preferably should be led to a winch which can be payed off under control. However, the arrangement of FIG. 9 is also satisfactory and comprises a piece of pipe 128 six inches or so in diameter welded to a pair of U bolts 129 which in turn are fastened to the A frame 35. The line 127 is snubbed around the pipe 128 with several turns so as to hold back the ropes.

With the ropes 46 held by the line 127, the six wire rope clamps 47-4 through 47-9 nearest the sheave 45 are removed. The latter six clamps are replaced by six friction clamps 131 through 136. As shown in FIG. 10, each of these clamps comprises a generally square plate to one bottom edge of which a rectangular bar 137 is welded. The clamps 134, 135 and 136 are installed with the bars 137 toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 10, so that these clamps may hold the ropes 46-2, 46-4 and 46-6 respectively while allowing the ropes 46-1, 46-3 and 46-5 to slip through freely. The clamps 131, 132 and 133 are installed with the bars to the right so that ropes 46-1, 46-3 and 46-5 may be held while ropes 46-2, 46-4 and 46-6 slip through.

Next, the two sheave cable clamps 83 and 84 (FIG. 3) are removed. The remaining three wire rope clamps 47-1, 47-2 and 47-3 are loosened, but not removed.

Now the uphauling line 127 (FIG. 9) is eased off to allow the rope clamp 126 and the hoist ropes 46 to descend slowly. At the same time, additional rope as necessary is drawn from the storage reels 49 on top of the car 44 and the friction clamps 131 through 136 are adjusted as necessary to control the payoff of each individual rope.

When sufficient additional lengths of hoist rope have been let down the hoistway, the ends are reconnected to the counterweight. There will, of course, be a certain amount of slack in the ropes. To remove this, the friction clamps 131-136 (FIG. are tightened quite snug and the car is lowered slowly by means of the chain hoists 53 and 54, until the slack is pulled out of each rope. It was 8 to allow the slack to be removed in this way that the car was originally lifted an extra foot or so.

With the slack removed, the three wire rope clamps 47-1, 47-2 and 47-3 are tightened. The two sheave cable clamps 83 and 84 are replaced and tightened. Next the friction clamps 131 through 136 are removed and the six wire rope clamps 47-4 through 47-9 reinstalled in their place. With support for the car thus restored, the chain hoists are loosened and removed. The hoist rope clamp 126 and the uphauling line 127 are also removed.

The traveling cable grip 104 is next unhooked from the machine room and lowered, as additional cable is drawn from the storage reel 41, until the grip reaches the floor where it was previously hung. A new grip is installed at the new machine level and hung from the building steel.

Similarly, the cable grip 114 on the lower limit switch cable is unhooked from the machine room, lowered, and a new grip installed at the new machine room level and hung from the building steel. Additional slack is payed off from the traveling cable storage reel 41 and from the lower limit switch storage reel 113 to remove the strain and the reels are locked. Both cables are replugged into the controller.

The compensating chain 6 4 is lengthened by adding additional chain and connecting it to the counterweight 6 5.

The top limit switch is" mounted in the new location and connected to the controller.

The electrical connections to the governor are reestablished.

Power is now restored and a test run made.

GENERAL COMMENTS It is apparent that the present invention provides a method and apparatus for quickly raising the hoisting machinery of a construction elevator system to a new level. The old procedure which required reroping usually required at least three eight hour shifts and was very wasteful of hoist ropes. The present invention wastes no rope and the entire procedure, from the time the elevator is in use at the old level until it is in use at the new level, requires only two eight-hour shifts. Thus, if necessary, the change could be made overnight. During one raising operation, the steel erectors hoist was in use less than 15 minutes. Such speedy operation is due to a number of factors, one of which, of course, is the fact that the reroping operation has been eliminated. Another factor is that the entire machine room plus the car is raised in a single operation. Another factor is that the machine room including its bedplate and the machine beams need be carefully positioned but once. After being carefully positioned at the first level, the guide plates 101 are fastened in position so that thereafter the bedplate is properly aligned with the guide rails 21 and 22. Similarly, once the machine beams are located properly the first time, the position of the beam clamp plates '88 and '89 can be marked on the bedplate 23 so that even if the clamp plates are displaced inadvertently, they can be restored quickly to their proper positions. In addition it is to be noted that the machine beams 24 and 25 span the hoistway and, in the absence of clamp plates 88 and 89, some other provision would have to be made to support them during their installation and removal.

TWO TO ONE RO'PING' The invention has been described thus far as applied to an elevator system using 1:1 roping but it is also applicable to 2:1 roping installations. In the usual 2:1 roping system, with machine above, the hoist ropes extend from a dead end hitch above the top floor, down- Ward and around an idler sheave on the counterweight, up and over the traction sheave, downward and around an idler sheave on the car and back up to another dead end hitch at or near the machine room. To apply the invention to a 2:1 roping system, the dead end hitches are modified.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, a bedplate 151 is shown supported by two machine beams 152 and 153 which in turn are supported by structural building beams 154. The bedplate 151 is preferably equipped with beam clamp plates (not shown) on the under side, similar to the clamp plates 88 and 89' previously described and is also provided with guide plates 155 which cooperate with the guide rails 21 and 22. A hoisting machine including sheaves 156 and 157 are shown mounted on the bedplate 151. It is assumed that a complete machine room is present, including a controller, a motor generator set, etc., but these components have been omitted from the drawing in order to show the other parts more clearly. A structural A frame 158 extends upward from the bedplate 151 and is provided with a horizontal crossbar 159 which extends nearly to the elevator guide rails 21 and 22.

Beneath the bedplate 151 is an auxiliary platform 161 including a crosshead made of two structural channel members 162 and 163, positioned back to back but spaced apart slightly. These members are equipped on their underside with beam clamp plates (not shown), similar to the clamp plates 88 and 89, which embrace the upper flanges of two platform beams 164 and 165, which span the hoistway and are in turn supported by beams 166 which are part of the building framework. Guide plates 167 are fastened to opposite ends of the members 162 and 163 and cooperate with the guide rails 21 and 22. Another pair of structural channel members 168 and 169 are spaced apart back to back and are supported by the platform beams 164 and 165.

The hoist ropes 171 terminate at one end in thimble rods 172 which extend between the channel members 168 and 169 and are fastened to a counterweight dead end hitch plate 173, which plate is supported by the members 168 and 1619. The hoist ropes 171 extend downward from the plate 173, to and around an idler sheave 174 on the counterweight 175, then upward and over the traction sheaves 156 and 157, then down and around an idler sheave 176 on the elevator car 177, then upward and around a grooved sheave 178 which is stationarily mounted on the channel members 162 and 163. The sheave 178 is similar to the sheave 45 and serves a like purpose. The ropes 171 engage the sheave for 270 more or less and then pass through wire rope clamps 179 which are suitably supported by the channel members 162 and 163. The hoist ropes 171 then extend to storage reels 181, mounted on a frame 182 fastened to the members 162 and 163, where the inactive, excess length is stored.

During normal operation of the elevator system, the machine beams 152 and 153 and the platform beams 164 and 165 are in place. The sheave 17-8 and the rope clamps 179 take the place of the usual car dead end hitch. The counterweight dead end hitch plate 173 remains stationary.

When the rise of the elevator system is to be increased, wire rope slings 183 and 184 are rigged to fasten the platform 161 to the cross bar 159. The car 177 is run to the top terminal and the counterweight is landed on its buffer. Chain hoists 185 and 186 are connected between the car 177 and the platform 161, and are taken up so as to slacken the hoist ropes. The counterweight dead end hitch cannot very well be completely released so as to fall into the hoistway yet some arrangement should be provided to eliminate the need for raising the counterweight. To this end, a pair of eye bolts 187, 188 in the hitch plate 173 are joined loosely by a sling 189 which is engaged by a hook 191 fastened to a rope 192 which passes up and over two pulleys 193 and 194 mounted at or above the level to which the machine room is to be raised. The rope 192 extends downward at some convenient location such as in a nearby vacant hoistway and terminates in a weight 195 heavier than that portion of the hoist ropes extending from the hitch plate down to the counterweight 175 (but not anywhere near as heavy as the counterweight). With the counterweight on its buffer, the hitch plate 173 will be raised enough so that the channel members 168 and 169 can be removed.

Next the steel erectors hoist is engaged with a sling 1 96 atop the A frame 158 and the entire machine room (comprising the bedplate 151 and the equipment mounted thereon), the platform 161 and the car 177 are raised slightly. The machine beams 152 and 153 and the platform beams 164 and 165 are withdrawn, after which the entire assembly is raised toward the new level causing the hitch plate 173 to descend. When the new level is reached, the beams 152, 153, 164 and 165 are reinserted and the bedplate 151 and platform 161 are landed on them. Some of the rope clamps 179 are removed and replaced temporarily with friction clamps as before. Additional hoist rope is payed out from the storage reels 181 until the hitch plate 173 rises sufiiciently so that the channel members can be reinserted beneath it. Then the chain hoists and 186 can be loosened so as to remove the slack from the hoist ropes 171. The wire rope clamps 179 are then replaced, the chain hoists 185 and 186 are removed, and the elevator is ready for service again.

In the description of the 2:1 roping system, no mention has been made of many essential components such as the governor, the traveling cable, etc. It is to be understood that those components not described may be similar to those described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 10 and/or to conventional components. Similarly, the procedures for handling the governor, the limit switch, the traveling cable, etc. may be similar to the procedure described in connection with the 1:1 roping installation.

CONCLUSION It is apparent that applicant has made a valuable contribution to the art of construction elevator systems, especially regarding the methods and means by which the rise of such systems can be increased readily. Although specific embodiments have been described in considerable detail for illustrative purposes, many modifications within the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore desired that the protection afforded by Letters Patent be limited only by the true scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator system, for use during the construction of a building comprising, an elevator car, a hoistway structure for said elevator car, a counterweight, a hoisting machine, a hoist rope for interconnecting said elevator car and said counterweight and said hoisting machine, a bedplate arranged to form a platform structure for supporting said hoisting machine, platform support means connecting said bedplate to said hoistway structure, and rope fastening means fastened to said hoist rope near one end thereof, wherein said bed plate has hitch means so that said bedplate can be raised by a lifting device, said platform support means has adjustable portions for adjustably connecting said bedplate to said hoistway structure, said rope fastening means includes rope storage means and a stationary member and rope clamping means for adjusting the length of said hoist rope, and said elevator car has removable support means for temporarily supporting said elevator car while the length of said hoist rope is adjusted, and wherein said rope fastening means is connected to said hoist rope so as to define an inactive portion and an active portion and a joining portion in said hoist rope, said rope storage means has a device arranged to receive and to support said rope inactive portion, said stationary member has an arcuate bearing surface, said arcuate bearing surface being arranged to engage said rope joining portion, and said rope clamping means has a pair of oppositely facing portions engaging said rope joining portion on opposite sides thereof.

2. An elevator system in accordance with claim 1 in which said surface of said member is formed with a groove into which said hoist rope fits.

3. An elevator system in accordance with claim 1 in which said storage device includes a reel on which said inactive portion of said rope is stored, and in which said arcuate surface is substantially tangent at one portion thereof to said rope active portion, and in which said rope clamping means is disposed between said rope storage means and said stationary member.

4. An elevator system in accordance with claim 1 in which said member is a sheave, non-rotatably mounted, and formed with a groove for receiving said rope joining portion of said hoist rope.

5. An elevator system, comprising, an elevator car, a counterweight, hoisting machinery, a hoist rope of predetermined continuous length including an active portion, an inactive portion and a joining portion, said active portion interconnecting said car, said counterweight and said hoisting machinery, whereby motion imparted to said active portion of said rope by said hoisting machinery causes said car to be raised and lowered, said inactive portion of said rope being stored, a non-rotatable member formed with an arcuate surface, and releasable rope clamping means, said joining portion of said rope extending from said active portion around and in engagement with said arcuate surface and through said rope clamping means to said inactive portion, whereby said member and said clamping means hold said rope stationary and whereby, upon release of said clamping means, said active portion may be extended in length, in which said member is a sheave, non-rotatably mounted, and formed with a groove for receiving said rope joining portion of said hoist rope, and in which sheave clamping means are provided for assisting in holding said rope in engagement with said sheave.

6. An elevator system in accordance with claim 1, including control means mounted on said bed plate for controlling said hoisting machine, said control means having a cable, said cable being connected to said control means at one end thereof and being connected to said elevator car at the opposite end thereof, said control means having a cable storage reel supported by said bed plate, said reel being arranged to receive and to store a portion of said cable intermediate the ends thereof.

7. An elevator system in accordance with claim 1, including a governor adjustably mounted adjacent to said bed plate, a brake lever pivotally connected to said elevator car, and a governor rope interconnecting said brake lever and said governor, wherein, said governor rope has opposite end portions connected to said brake lever, and wherein said brake lever has adjustable rope connecting means adjustably connected to one said rope end portion for increasing the length of said rope, and wherein said elevator car has a storage reel for receiving and stor ing an excess length of said adjustably connected rope end portion.

8. An elevator system in accordance with claim 1, in which said hoistway structure is the structure of said building and in which said building structure has a pair of guide rails and in which said bed plate is equipped with guide plates cooperating with said guide rails for maintaining the orientation of said bed plate with respect to said rails should said bed plate be raised.

9. An elevator system in accordance with claim 8 in which said platform support means comprises a pair of structural machine beams spanning said hoistway, supported by said building structure and in turn supporting said bed plate.

10. An elevator system comprising, in combination with a building structure, a bed plate, means for supporting said bed plate on said building structure, hoisting machinery mounted on said bed plate, a pair of guide rails, an elevator car movable vertically in a hoistWay along said guide rails beneath said bed plate, a counterweight, a hoist rope of a predetermined continuous length including an active portion, an inactive portion and a joining portion, said active portion interconnecting said car, said counterweight and said hoisting machinery so that motion imparted to said active portion by said hoisting machinery causes said car to be raised and lowered, said inactive portion being stored, a non-rotatable member formed with an arcuate surface, and releasable rope clamping means, said joining portion extending from said active portion around and in engagement with said arcuate surface of said member and through said rope clamping means to said inactive portion, whereby said member and said clamping means hold said rope from slipping, and whereby, upon release of said clamping means the length of said active portion may be varied, and in which said member is a non-rotatably mounted sheave formed with a groove for increasing the friction between said sheave and said rope, and in which said bed plate is equipped with guide plates cooperating with said guide rails for maintaining the orientation of said bed plate with respect to said rails should said bed plate be raised, and in which said means for supporting comprises a pair of structural machine beams spanning said hoistway, supported by said building structure and in turn supporting said bed plate, and in which said bed plate is equipped with elongated plates on the underside thereof defining a pair of guideways into and from which said machine beams may be inserted and withdrawn.

11. An elevator system in accordance with claim 10 in which each of said machine beams includes an upper and a lower flange joined by a web and in which each of said guideways is defined by a pair of said elongated plates depending beneath and spaced from the bottom of said bed plate, the plates of each pair being spaced apart an appropriate distance to receive and temporarily support the upper flange of its associated machine beam.

12. An elevator system in accordance with claim 11 in which said sheave and said rope clamping means are mounted on the top of said car and in which said inactive portion of said rope is stored on a reel mounted on the top of said car.

13. An elevator system in accordance with claim 12 in which said sheave is mounted with its axis approximately horizontal and positioned so that a vertical tangent to the periphery of said sheave is approximately at the center of said car so that said active portion of said rope extends from said counterweight, upward to said hoisting machin cry and downward to engagement with said sheave at said vertical tangent.

14. An elevator system in accordance with claim 11 in which an auxiliary platform is interposed in said hoistway between the upper limit of travel of said car and said bed plate and is adapted to be supported either by platform beams cooperating with said building structure or by means connected to said bed plate.

15. An elevator system in accordance with claim 14 in which said sheave and said rope clamping means are mounted on said auxiliary platform and in which said inactive portion of said rope is stored on a reel on said auxiliary platform.

16. An elevator system in accordance with claim 15 in which said auxiliary platform is equipped with guide plates cooperating with said guide rails for maintaining said platform in a predetermined position with respect to said rails.

17. An elevator system in accordance with claim 16 in which said active portion of said hoist rope extends from a dead end hitch on said platform downwardly to and around an idler sheave on said counterweight, upwardly and around said hoisting machinery, downwardly and around an idler sheave on said car, and upwardly to engagement with the periphery of said non-rotatably mounted sheave.

18. An elevator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said rope clamping portions has a plurality of spaced clamping members, each said clamping member being adjustably connected to said opposite rope clamping portion for adjusting the restraining force on said hoist rope, whereby the active length of said hoist rope can be increased readily as said hoisting machine is raised from time to time to enable said elevator system to serve successively higher floors as the building construction proceeds.

19. An elevator system in accordance with claim 18 in which said clamping members include members which are substantially flat plates for slida'bly restraining said hoist rope.

20. A construction elevator system comprising, in combination with a support structure, a portable bed plate, hoisting machinery mounted on said bed plate, an elevator car, a counterweight, a hoist rope interconnecting said elevator car and said counterweight and said hoisting machinery, lifting means arranged so as to simultaneously lift said bed plate and said elevator car for raising said bed plate, adjustable rope fastening means connected to said hoist rope for increasing the length of said hoist rope, and adjustable bed support means arranged so as to adjustably connect said bed plate to said support structure, wherein said rope fastening means includes a traction sheave non-rotatably mounted with its axis horizontal and positioned so that a vertical tangent to the periphery of said sheave is approximately at the centerline of said hoist rope, and a cable clamp mounted adjacent to said sheave, said hoist rope being positioned to extend approximately along said tangent, thence around the periphery of said sheave, thence through said cable clamp, with the excess rope stored adjacent to said clamp, and wherein said lifting means includes removable support means for temporarily supporting said car from said bed plate whereby the total eifective length of said hoist rope can be increased by temporarily supporting said car from said bed plate and by loosening said clamp and paying out additional rope from storage.

21. A construction elevator system comprising, in combination with a building structure, a portable bed plate, hoisting machinery mounted on said bed plate, an elevator car, a counterweight, a hoist rope interconnecting said elevator car and said counterweight and said hoisting machinery, lifting means arranged so as to simultaneously lift said bed plate and said elevator car for raising said bed plate, adjustable rope fastening means connected to said hoist rope for increasing the length of said hoist rope, and adjustable bed support means arranged so as to adjustably connect said bed plate to said building structure, wherein said bed support means includes, a pair of structural machine beams each including upper and lower flanges interconnected by a web, and a pair of elongated clamp plates for each machine beam mounted upon, depending beneath and spaced from the bottom of said bed plate, so that each pair forms, with the bottom of said bed plate, a horizontal guideway into which the upper flange of the associated machine beam may be inserted longitudinally to be supported thereby temporarily until the bed plate is lowered into place with the building structure supporting the machine beams which in turn support the bed plate.

22. A construction elevator system according to claim 21 in which each of said elongated clamp plates is equipped with an elongated rectangular bar fastened along one upper edge for spacing its associated plate from said bed plate, and in which the plates of each pair are positioned parallel to and beside each other but laterally spaced apart so as to receive said upper flange of said machine beam.

23. A construction elevator system according to claim 22 in which said clamp plates are mounted to the bed plate by means which can be loosened to permit ready insertion of the machine beams or tightened to draw the clamp plates toward said bed plate so as to clamp said machine beams in position and prevent shifting thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 699,375 5/1902 Ericsson l872 3,298,462 1/1967 Morris 1872 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,356,420 12/1964 France.

HARVEY C. HORNSBY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 18712, 20, 94 

